Don Capps Honored

(Left to
Right) Dr. John Stockwell, Chancellor of University of South Carolina,
Spartanburg; Don Capps in full academic regalia; and Betty Capps]

From the Editor:
On his wife Betty's birthday, May 5, 2001, Don Capps, President Emeritus of
the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina and senior member of
the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind, received an
honorary Doctorate of Public Service from the University of South Carolina
at Spartanburg. In recognition of this honor, the South Carolina Legislature
also passed a concurrent resolution. Following a series of whereases reprising
Don's life of service to blind people and the community at large, the resolution
said:

"Be it resolved
by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring: That the members of
the General Assembly commend Donald C. Capps of Columbia, President Emeritus
of the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina, for the invaluable
contributions he has made over the last forty-five years in aiding the blind
citizens of South Carolina and the nation, and congratulate him on receiving
an honorary Doctor of Letters from USC Spartanburg."

Here is the press
release circulated by the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind:

Advocate
for the Blind to Receive Honorary Doctorate

The blind woman never
went to restaurants or social events because she was embarrassed to eat in
public. That changed when Donald C. Capps stepped in and persuaded her to come
to a luncheon where everyone would be blind.

A young woman lost
her sight when a brain tumor caused her to become blind. She and her three-year-old
child were then left in poverty after her husband left her. But Capps heard
about her plight and stepped in to help her find employment.

Saturday night, May
5, Capps will again step in, but this time he will step into the limelight
when he will be recognized for his years of advocacy for people who are blind
and visually impaired. An alumnus of the South Carolina School for the Deaf
and the Blind, Capps will be given an honorary Doctorate of Public Service
degree during commencement exercises at the University of South Carolina at
Spartanburg. The Columbia, South Carolina, resident will be honored at the
ceremony starting at 7 p.m. on the USC's Quadrangle.

Visually impaired
since birth, Capps has spent a lifetime dedicating his time and talent to improving
the quality of life for the blind citizens of South Carolina and the nation.
He has successfully led efforts to change laws to improve education for blind
citizens and served as an advocate, friend, and role model to many residents
with vision impairments.

Capps was the first
representative of the blind community to serve on the Board of Commissioners
of the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind. He has been a member
of the board since 1981 and currently serves as vice chairman.

"We are very
excited and happy for Mr. Capps. This honor could not go to a more deserving
person," said SCSDB President Sheila S. Breitweiser, who nominated Capps
for the honorary doctorate.

The youngest of eleven
children, Capps grew up on a tobacco farm in rural South Carolina. Due to congenital
glaucoma he was born without vision in his left eye and seriously impaired
vision in his right eye. In 1947 Colonial Life and Accident Insurance hired
Capps as a junior claim examiner trainee. As his eyesight deteriorated, however,
he felt resigning was his only option. But the company president did not agree
and noted that Capps's value to the organization was due to many other abilities
besides reading. Capps went on to enjoy a thirty-eight-year career with the
company before retiring in 1985.

While successful in
business, Capps's greatest achievements were in his countless hours as a volunteer.
As a result of his lobbying efforts, more than thirty-five legislative acts
designed to improve the lives of blind people have passed the South Carolina
Legislature. His work resulted in the creation of the South Carolina Commission
for the Blind, a state agency that provides orientation and adjustment to blindness,
rehabilitation, and job-placement services.

Other legislative
achievements include securing funding for needy blind people, equal treatment
in jury service, voting assistance for blind people, fair-insurance coverage,
access rights and guaranteed equal access to kindergarten for blind children.
He also established a statewide task force to address high unemployment rates
among employable blind citizens.

Capps has been instrumental
in establishing a training program for teachers of blind people at the University
of South Carolina. The program will be available in fall, 2001.

He has served on the
Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind since 1959 and has
represented the NFB at conferences around the world--recently returning from
a trip to Australia. He served as President of the NFB of South Carolina for
thirty years and was recently named President Emeritus. At that time South
Carolina Governor Jim Hodges gave him the highest honor a South Carolina governor
can bestow--the Order of the Palmetto.

Recognizing a great
need for low-cost recreational opportunities, Capps established a camp for
blind people. Located in the scenic mountains of northern Pickens County, Rocky
Bottom Camp is open year-round free of charge to blind South Carolinians and
their immediate families. The thirty-acre camp is the site for a variety of
recreational and educational activities including children's and seniors' camps
and workshops. Owned and operated by blind people, the camp has confirmed the
belief that fellowship and interaction are the best therapies for a person
who is experiencing permanent blindness.

Other activities include
serving as editor of the statewide Palmetto Blind magazine and former
president of the Forest Acres Rotary Club in Columbia.

Other honors include
the state Outstanding Leader in Education Award in 1993, the Jefferson Award
for public service in 1999, and the Colonel's Way Award for Community Service
in South Carolina by the national KFC restaurant chain.

Capps's service continues
to make a difference every day in the lives of blind people. A man who had
been depressed about his loss of vision wept when Capps visited his home. "You
are the first blind person who has ever visited me," the man told Capps.
Because of Capps's encouragement and friendship, the man is now serving as
the president of a local chapter of the National Federation of the Blind.

As the president of
the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind, Dr. Breitweiser said
in a tribute to Capps, "He is truly an angel sent to watch over and serve
individuals who are blind."